In Rychnov, there is the first mobile kindergarten, three times cheaper than a traditional one

Kindergarten in Rychnov u Jablonce

Rychnov u Jablonce (Jablonecko) - The first portable kindergarten made of spatial modules has been built in Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou, Czech Republic. The city hall's costs were three to four times lower than if they had constructed two departments for 40 children the traditional way. The kindergarten was also created much faster - in less than a month. If, in a few years, fewer children are born, the spatial modules can be repurposed for something else - for example, changing rooms for athletes or club rooms. This was stated today by the mayor of Rychnov, František Chlouba.
    "An extension to the old kindergarten would cost us 12 to 15 million crowns, and without a subsidy, we couldn't embark on it. We don't have that much money in our budget. The portable kindergarten costs four million crowns," Chlouba stated.
    The spatial modules resemble containers and can be stacked as easily as Lego. Children will start attending the kindergarten on October 1. "In a simple, plain building, they will find equally good facilities as in any other kindergarten," added Chlouba. In recent years, many young people with small children have moved to Rychnov, and the 99 places in the old kindergarten are no longer sufficient.
   "We have already had other interested parties come to see the 'container' kindergarten. They are considering it, for example, in the Jablonec hospital, which needs a kindergarten for their employees' children," said Chlouba. In nearby Jablonec nad Nisou, the city hall plans to build a nursery from spatial modules. Traditional nurseries would cost around 15 million crowns, while portable "container" nurseries can be acquired for just under five million crowns.
    The constructions made from spatial modules are produced by the company Koma Modular Construction from Vizovice, which has primarily exported them to Norway and the Netherlands. Recently, it sent a portable primary school to the Italian city of L'Aquila, ravaged by an earthquake in spring. "The modular school, costing 1.5 million euros (over 37 million crowns), accommodates 22 classrooms, spans 1,300 square meters, and we delivered it to Italy seven weeks after the first contact with the customer," noted Martin Hart, the marketing director of Koma Modular Construction.
    The company, which had revenues of over 470 million crowns last year, is also negotiating the construction of portable kindergartens in Poběžovice and Ždírec in the Plzeň region. According to Hart, constructions from spatial modules come out about one third cheaper than traditional buildings. "In Norway and the Netherlands, portable kindergartens are quite common. They operate on the philosophy that buildings move with children - they can be easily relocated, expanded, or reduced in size," explained Hart.
    In the Vizovice factory, ready-made rooms with windows, doors, and cladding are created. Residential "containers" measure up to ten meters in length and three to four meters in width. "Portable modular kindergartens meet all hygiene and fire safety regulations," Hart pointed out.
    Koma Modular Construction produces residential, storage, and sanitary containers. About 70 percent of its production is exported. In 2003, for example, its spatial modules were sent to Iraq for the American Army. In 2006, the company supplied luxury "container" VIP toilets for the World Cup in Germany, and in 2008 for the European Football Championship in Austria and Switzerland. They also create restaurants and car showrooms from spatial modules.